iloubnan - Labor Ministry regulates foreign household employment - February 14, 2011

Caretaker Labor Minister Boutros Harb signed a ministerial decree to simplify administrative paperwork related to foreign and local workers' employment in Lebanon. The decree aims to reduce bureaucratic red tape for such procedures from 10 signatures needed to four signatures, which would save time for the employer and help prevent corruption. The decree also stipulates the installation of a computerized system that automatically validates completed applications and rejects incomplete or illegal applications, in order to enhance transparency in procedures.

In parallel, the minister unveiled a draft law to regulate the relationship between foreign workers in Lebanon and their employers. The law addresses the working conditions of about 111,000 foreigners, mostly females, who work at Lebanese households as maids. The law stipulates 60 working hours per week for foreign workers at households, nine continuous rest hours and one day off per week. It also requires employers to pay end-of-service compensation equivalent to one month's salary for every year of employment of up to five years, and 65% of a month's salary for every year afterwards. Further, an employer is prohibited from recruiting foreign household workers if it is found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony against a foreign employee. The law is expected to ensure a minimum living standard for foreign household help in Lebanon, especially that several governments have prohibited their nationals from seeking household employment in Lebanon due to inadequate working conditions.